Music legend killed in crash

AUSTRALIAN music industry legend Vince Lovegrove, 64, is believed to be the driver of a Volkswagen Kombi van that crashed before burning out on Binna Burra Rd, Federal on Friday night.

A resident reported hearing an explosion on Friday but police were not notified of the crash until Saturday.

Police have not confirmed the identity of the driver but tributes to the man who managed some of the biggest musical acts in Australia have begun to flow.

Officers found his van on its side down a small ditch on Binna Burra Rd at 9.30am on Saturday morning.

"Police received a report from a member of the public who thought he heard an explosion on a nearby road," Sergeant Troy Hamilton said.

According to Sgt Hamilton, the body was burnt beyond recognition. He also said the vehicle was registered to a Lismore post office box.

"Police are attempting to identify the driver at this time," he said.

"At the moment, Brunswick Heads, Byron Bay and Tweed Heads police are investigating the circumstances of the fatality."

Mr Lovegrove founded The Valentines with former AC/DC singer Bon Scott and he managed The Divinyls in the 1980s.

He travelled to Europe as Jimmy Barnes' tour manager and remained actively involved in the Australian music scene, regularly posting comments on his blog, MusicBackTrack, musicbacktrack.blogspot.com.au/.

More than his musical influence, he was perhaps most recognised for his campaigning for AIDS awareness.

His wife and son died from AIDS and Lovegrove told their story in two award-winning documentaries -Suzi's Story and A Kid Called Troy.

Mr Lovegrove was to start work as a journalist at The Northern Star on Wednesday.